Plan to transform derelict Longford cinema into a church

A derelict cinema in Coventry could be turned into a church complete with community space and library.


Olatokunbo Adio, Adejoke Olaitan and Pastor Abiodun Olaitan outside The Ritz Cinema

The Ritz, on the corner of Windmill Road, Longford, has stood empty for 20 years and various plans for it to be demolished or turned into flats have never materialised.

Now an application has been submitted to the city council by The Redeemed Christian Church of God.

Pastor Abiodun Olaitan, from the church, said: We’ve submitted an application for a change of use for the building so we can use it for worship and social use.

“On the ground floor we would have a worship centre and also a library where we would offer free internet use for people.

“Upstairs we would have a creche and another hall that could be used for the community. We also want to have a youth room which could be used for training.”

Several representations have already made to the council on the plan. Many are in support of the proposal while others raise concerns about an increase of traffic, noise nuisance and parking issues.

Mr Olaitan said the church had already liaised with the council’s highways department to come up with a travelling plan and said while the church has a regular congregation of about 100 people, many would use public transport with dedicated wardens escorting people from nearby bus stops to the church.

“We are very aware that we don’t want to be a nuisance to the community. We want them to benefit from what we are doing,” he added.

The church has been meeting in Barr’s Hill School, Radford, for the last seven years but Mr Olaitan said it needs more space to carry out its community work.

He added: “We are limited in what we can do at Barr’s Hill.

"We cover so many areas in Coventry, for example we give help to university students and give them orientation when they arrive in the city.

"Three times a year we offer help with job applications and interviews and how to live independently."

The church also works with asylum seekers and homeless people.

Lonnie Downes, chairman of Longford Community Action for our Neighbourhood, said people in the area would be pleased to see something done at the Ritz.

“We like the idea. Some of the people from the church came to our meeting and showed us the plans and gave us a good presentation.

"They are keen to make it a community building.”

Members from the church are giving another presentation at the next Longford CAN meeting on Wednesday February 1 at 7pm at St Thomas’ Church, Longford Road.

Parking fears over plans to convert Longford cinema into church

CONCERNS have been raised about the impact on parking if a former cinema is converted into a church.

As reported in the Coventry Telegraph last month a plan has been submitted to the city council by the Redeemed Christian Church of God, which wants to take over the Ritz cinema, on the corner of Windmill Road, Longford.

At a meeting of Longford CAN (Community Action for our Neighbourhood) last week residents living in Dovedale Avenue, Windmill Road and St Thomas Road spoke of their worries over the impact on parking.

As well as running Sunday services the church also hopes to offer community activities throughout the week, including a library and creche.

Members of the church say they have addressed potential parking problems by approaching various large companies in the area, including Tesco, United Carpets and Midland Plastics, which have agreed to allow parking on their sites.

Other concerns were also raised such as noise, wheelchair access and questions over whether a structural survey would be completed as trees are growing through gaps in the bricks.

Coun George Duggins said the three ward councillors were opposed to the development based on concerns over parking.

Plans to transform former Ritz Cinema in Longford 'should be thrown out'

PLANS to convert Coventry's former Ritz Cinema into a church should be thrown out, say council officials.

The Redeemed Christian Church of God wants to move to the former Ritz Cinema, on the corner of Windmill Road and Longford Road, Longford, from its present home in Barr’s Hill School, Radford.

As well as housing the church, the idea is for the building to be used by the community, with a creche and library planned.

But concerns over parking and introducing a community centre outside the city centre have led planning officials to recommend councillors refuse permission when they consider the application on Thursday.

A number of residents living near the former cinema have objected to the plans, raising concerns about existing parking problems and noise and disturbance from increased traffic.

Ward councillors Linda Bigham, George Duggins and Lindsley Harvard have also spoken out against the plan, and have submitted a petition signed by 320 people.

They highlight concerns that there will be issues over the number of cars parking in the area both on Sundays and throughout the week, adding to the “already poor air and noise pollution in the area”.

However, 57 representations have been made in support of the application.

In his report, planning official Liam D’onofrio said the application was contrary to two planning policies.

He said: “The reason for Coventry City Council refusing planning permission is because the development would result in a large-scale out-of-centre social, community and leisure use... and would result in a significant demand for on-street parking in a location where there are existing on-street parking problems to the detriment of the amenities of the occupiers of surrounding properties.”

The highways engineer has objected to the scheme due to “insufficient on-site parking provision”.

The church had secured extra parking spaces for visitors at two local businesses but these offers have now been withdrawn.

The former Ritz Cinema has been empty for 20 years and previous plans for it to be demolished or turned into flats have never materialised.

The Redeemed Christian Church of God has been meeting at Barr’s Hill School for the past seven years but leaders want more space to cater for its congregation of more than 100 people and improve its work with people within the community, including asylum seekers and the homeless.

The council’s planning committee will meet tomorrow at 2pm.

Church plan for former Ritz Cinema in Longford rejected

PLANS to transform a former Coventry cinema into a church have been rejected.

The Redeemed Christian Church of God had applied to Coventry City Council to move in to the former Ritz Cinema in Longford.

But councillors on the planning committee unanimously agreed to throw out the application over lack of parking provision near the eye-catching building on the corner of Windmill Road and Longford Road.

As well as the church, the application included a creche and library.

Coun George Duggins (Lab, Longford) handed in a petition of 320 residents calling for the church plan to be rejected.

“The issue of parking has simply not been resolved,” Coun Duggins said.

“Parking arrangements with other people nearby seem to have fallen through and the travel plan submitted made little or no sense.”

Council officers recommended the church plan be rejected due to existing parking problems as well as noise and disturbance from any increased traffic. The old cinema has been empty for 20 years.

Previous plans for it to be demolished or turned into flats have never materialised.

The Redeemed Christian Church of God has met at Barr’s Hill School, Radford, for the past seven years.

Leaders had hoped the building would give them more space to cater for its congregation of more than 100 people and improve its work with people within the community, including asylum seekers and the homeless.

Sitting next to Coun Duggins, the applicant Biodun Olaitan said: “Going forward with the parking issue is something we’re working on.

“We want to encourage sustainable travel, cycling and buses.

“But presently we have fewer than 20 people attending during the week. It’s not like we’re going to have 120 people there Monday to Sunday.”

Council officers ruled any arrangements with local businesses to share parking facilities could not be considered as they could be subject to change.

Representations by 57 people had been made in support of the church plan.

Coun John McNicholas said: “This committee has a record of helping churches relocate to buildings that haven’t been occupied for some time.

“This building has been considered an eyesore and is a problem.

“But this use will never ever be suitable because of the reason of parking. How this application has even come to be here, I do not know.

“For me it’s a very clear case of an inappropriate use.”

Coventry's Dovedale cinema was sold for £191,000



The Dovedale picture house, in Longford, opened its doors in 1929. Its guide price had been set from £120,000-£140,000 on Thursday.

The site has planning permission to be converted into six houses and three apartments.

Sally Smith, of Loveitts auctioneers, said the buyer was a businessman and she did not yet know his future plans for the building.

NB: The Dovedale became the Ritz some time in the 1950s after many years of being known as the Rivoli.